Photos: Israel One Big Snowman

Tens of thousands of Israelis flocked to see the snow that fell as far south as the mountains over Eilat. Forecast: A rainless Purim.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

First Publish: 3/4/2012, 11:06 AM

Snow men share bench with girl

Flash 90

Tens of thousands of Israelis flocked to see the snow that fell as far south as the mountains over Eilat, but for a change Purim is expected to be rainless.

More than two meters of snow has piled up on the lower slopes of the Hermon, the highest amount in years, and three meters were measured on the upper slopes.

More than half a meter – 20 inches – fell in the northern Golan Heights, and several inches fell in the highest hills of Samaria, Jerusalem, Gush Etzion and Kiryat Arba-Hevron. Two inches fell as far south as the southern Hevron Hills, several miles north of Be’er Sheva and Arad, and snow also fell over the mountains overlooking Eilat.

Rain fell Sunday morning over the Jerusalem area but is expected to end by nightfall as Israel begins to dry out. Partly cloudy skies will prevail on Monday with rising temperatures, a trend that is forecast to continue through Thursday, when most of Israel celebrates Purim, and on Friday, when the holiday is celebrated in Jerusalem.